Todd Minikus was among the top show jumpers competing at the 2014 Challenge of the Americas.
Wellington, FL – March 20, 2015 – The 2015 Challenge of the Americas (COTA) is set to kick off at the International Polo Club (IPC) Palm Beach tonight at 5:30, and this one of a kind event is getting an additional boost from the support of Partners for Pink, a new sponsorship group that has been very popular in its inaugural year.
Partners for Pink is a society of individuals and business owners who have come together in the fight against breast cancer. COTA assists the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) through their partner Play for P.I.N.K (Prevention, Immediate Diagnosis, New Technology, Knowledge). Joining Partners for Pink is a great way to get involved with COTA at an accessible level while receiving numerous sponsorship benefits.
Among the members of Partners for Pink for 2015 is Visions Salon, a Wellington mainstay that has been serving residents and seasonal visitors for more than 25 years.
“I really love the equestrian community and was looking for an opportunity to get more involved,” said Tom Monticello, owner of Visions Salon. “Breast cancer is a cause near and dear to my heart.”
Another company with a long history in the South Florida area is Red Barn Feed & Supply, which provides a complete selection of products for the animal community of Palm Beach County. Red Barn has previously sponsored COTA and returns this year as part of Partners for Pink.
“Partners for Pink is a fresh approach, and we feel it will help breast cancer research that much more,” Store Manager Mario Mejia said. “We believe that this is a very good way for Red Barn to join in the fight against breast cancer.”
Lindsay Zeltzer – Illustration and Fine Art has also stepped up as a Partners for Pink sponsor. Zeltzer, a portrait artist and mixed media/collage illustrator, is happy to support COTA since she has a personal connection with the disease.
“I’m excited to be involved with Partners for Pink as members of my close family have been affected by breast cancer, and through the funding of research, we can consider a future without its devastation,” she said. “Challenge of the Americas is not only a fundraiser toward this goal, but also a celebration of victories in breast cancer treatment and survivors of the disease.”
Stillpoint Farm, one of Wellington’s top dressage facilities, is part of the family of Partners for Pink sponsors in 2015. The farm’s owner, Tuny Page, is an accomplished international dressage competitor and can appreciate all the time and effort that goes into pulling together the intricate quadrille routines for COTA.
“I love the Challenge; it’s fantastic entertainment,” Page said. “There’s a real tradition built around it now, and people want to attend and get behind it. I applaud everything that the riders, choreographers and organizers do to put together this event. The bottom line is that it supports a tremendously important cause.”
Phelps Media Group, a leader in sports media with a primary focus on competitive equestrian disciplines, has added its name to the roster of Partners for Pink sponsors.
“Challenge of the Americas is an iconic event in Wellington, and we are proud to be involved,” said Chip McKenney, CEO of Phelps Media Group. “The funds raised each year by COTA bring us one step closer to finding a cure.”
Leon F. Gerard, DDS, who operates a dental practice in Boca Raton, has joined Partners for Pink this year as well. Gerard and his wife, Deborah Menotte, are horse lovers who feel it is important to contribute to breast cancer research.
“Sponsoring an event like COTA is a perfect way, in our mind, to lend our support,” Menotte said. “I think it’s a great event at a great venue, and it brings awareness to breast cancer in a fun and different way.”
Partners for Pink can also count Wellington Regional Medical Center among its members. Wellington Regional is a progressive acute-care facility and medical center that has been serving Palm Beach County and the surrounding region since 1986. It offers the high-tech advantages of a big-city hospital along with the personalized care of a hometown provider.
With such a remarkable response in its first year, Partners for Pink has already made a major difference by rallying businesses and individuals to unite in the fight against breast cancer.
Challenge of the Americas Fast Facts
The 2015 Challenge of the Americas, presented by Deloitte, is a spectacular event in which teams of high-performance dressage riders compete in intricate quadrilles set to world-class music and choreography. For the 2015 edition, teams will also include elite show jumpers competing to rack up more points for their teams.
This annual fundraiser is a one-of-a-kind affair. Competing riders include the “Who’s Who” of top equestrian competitors in the United States, Canada, Latin America and Europe. The 2015 Challenge of the Americas will once again raise money to help find a cure for breast cancer by benefiting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation through their partner Play for P.I.N.K.
When:
Fri., March 20, 2015
5:30 p.m. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres
6:00 p.m. Opening ceremonies
6:10 p.m. Challenge of the Americas Competition
7:30 p.m. Award Presentation
7:45 p.m. The Challenge Gala: Dinner and Dancing
Where:
International Polo Club Palm Beach
3667 120th Avenue South
Wellington, FL 33414
www.internationalpoloclub.com
Ticket Information:
Mary Ross
8067 Montserrat Place
Wellington, FL 33414
(561) 433-0988
Anglot@aol.com
Ticket prices:
VIP Tables of 10: price includes competition and gala dinner and dancing
Gold Patron $6,500 per table
Silver Patron $4,500 per table
Bronze Patron $2,500 per table
Individual Seating: $250 per person
Partners for Pink: $1,500 special sponsorship package that includes two VIP tickets along with advertising and media promotion
General Admission seating $20 per person at the gate
Children 12 and under admitted free (General Admission)
Website:
www.challengeoftheamericas.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/ChallengeOfTheAmericas
The Challenge of The Americas Beneficiary: The Breast Cancer Research Foundation through their partner Play for P.I.N.K
Play for P.I.N.K.
Play for P.I.N.K.® (Prevention, Immediate Diagnosis, New Technology, Knowledge) is a 501(c)(3) grassroots organization dedicated to raising funds to fight breast cancer through lifestyle and sporting events. Our commitment is to contribute 100% of all proceeds to our sole beneficiary, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation in order to fund the world’s top researchers. In 2014, PFP donated $4.5 million to BCRF for a cumulative total of $38.5 million.
Website: playforpink.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/playforpink
Website: www.bcrfcure.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheBreastCancerResearchFoundation
Mary Adelaide Brakenridge for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com